Liaden Universe® – Sharon Lee, Writer

From the mail bag

So! Yesterday was quite a banner day for Liaden Universe® appreciations.

There was Ryk Spoor’s guest column, here.

And there was also a column on Giant Freaking Robot, by Joshua Tyler, here.

Both are largely positive takes on the universe, and I encourage you to read them and share them, perhaps, with your friends who have yet to discover All Things Liaden.

Despite being largely positive, Mr. Tyler’s piece contains a sentence which has . . . horrified, concerned, and angered some Liaden readers and fans, and thus I find letters in my mailbox. This blog post is a blanket reply to those letters, and statements of concern.

Mr. Tyler states: “Sadly, Liaden co-author Steve Miller died suddenly on February 20, 2024. He was 73. It’s unclear if Sharon will continue writing the series without him. As a fan of the series, I hope not.” (bolding is mine)

Now, whether this is opinion or corrigendum, I can’t tell you. I am not the author of the piece. In general, it’s wise to assume that what the author wrote is what the author meant, and Mr. Tyler is, as we all are, entitled to his opinion.

What I can say is this: There are three Liaden Universe® novels now under contract with Baen Books. I am currently lead on one of those, the sequel to Ribbon Dance. In addition, before Steve’s death and the attendant dis- and re-organizations engendered by that cataclysm, I was making notes for the sequel to the sequel. Steve was lead on Trade Lanes, which had become increasingly difficult for him as his heart slowly failed him. I may or may not be able, eventually, to finish Trade Lanes. If not, another Liaden book will fill the third slot.

So, for the moment, Mr. Tyler must reside in disappointment. Sharon will be continuing the series, but, not, as he supposes, “without” Steve.

The fact is that there would be no Liaden Universe® as we’ve all come to know it, without Steve’s input, genius, and wit. He’s as much of the warp and weft of the Universe as the Tree, the Dragon, and the stars.

Summing up, and realizing that there are no guarantees, it is my intention to continue to write Liaden books and Liaden stories. New titles will be published as by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, because that will be nothing more nor less than the truth.

You can help promote Salvage Right!

Dear Friends of Liad and all the ships in space:

July 4 rolls rapidly toward us and beside being an important celebration for Americans, this July 4 is the official release day for Salvage Right, which you may recall is Lee and Miller’s 25th Liaden novel and 100th collaborative work – so two landmarks with this one!

Two landmarks in one book is certainly cause for celebration, and we want as many people as possible to get the news and join us in the happy dance of accomplishment.

If you’d like to help us get the word out, we’d love to have your help. You may say that there’s nothing you can do, that you’re only a reader, don’t have any important contacts, or any connections.

And you would be wrong.

For example, many of you are well-known to your local librarians — some of you are local librarians! — so one thing you can do as July 4 approaches is to request your libraries to add Salvage Right. Libraries especially are nice — doesn’t cost you, libraries need community input, and better still, if there are other Liaden titles, well, no time like the present to fill the blank spots. If your library is unfamiliar with our work you can point to some online resources we’ll post at the bottom for extra support. Are you a member of a book group at your library or local bookstore? Salvage Right could be just the thing for your summer read. Do you belong to a science fiction club? Maybe you can give a short presentation on the Liaden Universe®.

Besides face-to-face in Real Life with bookstore, literary, and library folks, you can do online face-to-facing if you tend in that direction. Here’s how:

Make posts in any relevant Facebook group about genre fiction or books – share a cover image for Salvage Right, and a few short lines about why you like the Liaden Universe® and are looking forward to Salvage Right, or share what makes Liaden Universe® books among your favorite reads. Mention the eye-catching 100th collaboration figure if you like, or the five related short story stuffed Liaden Universe® Constellations.

Do you have a favorite genre blog, podcast, or YouTuber? Suggest a post or session on the Liaden Universe® using Salvage Right as a center piece. Point out, if you like, that most Liaden Universe® novels and many of the short works are already available as audiobooks. If you have your own blog or podcast, consider Salvage Right or Liaden Universe® coverage of your own. When you read Salvage Right don’t forget to post an Amazon review; you may be able to copy that same review to your regular posts.

If you’re active in their communities, don’t hesitate to suggest Liaden Universe® coverage to such places as Locus, Tor.com, or even Hugo award-oriented outlets. You’ll see below that we’ve had some coverage from such places in the past:

tor.com
Portland Press Herald
Locus

If you can help: word of mouth, word of print, or free-flowing electrons, we’d appreciate the support.

Many thanks to all of you, for your continuing support, and enthusiasm for our work!

Liaden Universe® Awards and Honors

So, I’m updating the List of Honors received by the Liaden books, because with one thing and another thing, and that thing over there, dammit — I’d gotten behind on recordkeeping.

Over 300,000 Liaden books in print — this was in April last year, but the best number I have.

13 National Bestsellers:
Liaden Universe® Constellation Volume I
Liaden Universe® Constellation Volume II
Liaden Universe® Constellation Volume III
Ghost Ship
Necessity’s Child
Trade Secret
Dragon Ship
Dragon in Exile
Neogenesis
Mouse and Dragon
Agent of Change
The Gathering Edge
Accepting the Lance

One USA Today Bestseller: Saltation

22 Locus Bestsellers — that’s 22 titles, not weeks on the list

Awards
Balance of Trade, Hal Clement Award 2005
Scout’s Progress, Prism Award #1 2002
Local Custom, Prism Award #2 2002
Scout’s Progress Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, Best Science Fiction novel of 2002

Nebula Award Nominee: “Changeling”

Lee & Miller joint recipients of the Skylark Award, February 2012

Well, there. Busy little universe, ain’t it?

Everybody take a deep breath

No, we are NOT “ending the Liaden series” (or “killing the series” or “abandoning our readers” or “selling out”* or whatever other variation you like).

What We Are Doing Is This:

We are finishing the five-book arc which begins with Dragon in Exile (aka Dragon in Exile, Alliance of Equals, The Gathering Edge, Neogenesis, Fifth of Five (working title))
We are also finishing the 20-book arc** which begins with Agent of Change (aka Crystal Soldier, Crystal Dragon, Local Custom, Scout’s Progress, Mouse and Dragon, Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, Carpe Diem, Plan B, I Dare, Fledgling, Saltation, Ghost Ship, Dragon Ship, Necessity’s Child, Dragon in Exile, Alliance of Equals, The Gathering Edge, Neogenesis, Fifth of Five (working title))
After Fifth of Five (working title) has been completed, Steve and I are under contract for five more Liaden novels in two chunks.
1. Chunk One, consisting of two novels bearing the working titles of Liaden Mask Book One, and Liaden Mask Book Two
2. Chunk Two, consisting of three novels bearing the working titles of Liaden Triple Threat Book One, Liaden Triple Threat Book Two, Liaden Triple Threat Book Three
3. No, we don’t know what any of those titles will be “about”. They will be Liaden Universe® novels, because the contracts so stipulate
It remains hard to write the last book in two arcs at once. Just so that’s clear.

I hope everyone is reassured now. Thank you for reading, and for being so invested in our work. . .

______
*This one is really hard to figure out. I thought that “selling out” means, um, taking a lot of money to do something questionable that would compromise one’s morals or good name. I could be wrong, here, but I think the key to “selling out” is, well, SELLING, not just. . .stopping.

**or the 22-book arc, if you’re of the opinion that the Jethri Gobelyn books are in the main arc. Not a 21-book arc. Innumerate writer is innumerate.

Today in the Liaden Universe®

It is a truism of the freelance lifestyle that one lives always in pleasant anticipation of the arrival of money, and this morning was no different than any other in that regard.

I make a clean breast at once. Today, we did not get money in the mail.

Today, we got something better.

I have here in my hand a letter from David Mattingly, enclosing the first of 50 prints of the wrap-around cover for Neogenesis, the twenty-first novel in the Liaden Universe®. David also kindly compliments the book, letting us know that he felt a “special connection.”

We also find that Amazon today has put up a catalog page for Neogenesis, which includes the publisher’s synopsis. Here’s that link.

And here is the cover art:

There are forty-nine more prints available. Apply to David Mattingly, if you would like to purchase one. Here’s a link.

Book the Next no more

Gentlebeings, I gather you here this morning to impart glad tidings.

Book the Next, formerly known as Fourth of Five, the twenty-first novel set in the Liaden Universe®, created out of whole cloth by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller!

Has at long last accepted a title.

Hereinafter, Book the Next will be known as. . .

Neogenesis

And there was much rejoicing.

Mixed bag, with fame, and toydrake

As advertised, Steve and I are reading A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny one chapter a night, starting on September 30, and ending on Halloween (some folks have reported being able to download this as an ebook; I can’t find it myself, so if anyone can give a tip to those still looking, it would be appreciated).

So far, on our journey, we’ve met Snuff, our narrator; Jack; the graveyard dog; Greymalk; Cheeter; Needle — and heard news of Nightwind; Morris and McCab; the Great Detective and his companion; Crazy Jill; the Mad Monk Rastoff; Quicklime; the Count; and the kindly Druid. And let us not forget that curious paw print in the yard…

Mysteries are starting to pile up, and there turns up a curious question — Are you an opener? or a closer?#

# # #

Yesterday, the coon cats and I spent many hours on the sofa, mapping out the Rest of the Story. We decided to cut out one narrative line for lack of space, and package it as a short story; and I think have a working strategy for getting everyone at the corner of Elm and 10th Street at the same hour on the date appointed. I have pointed the Auctorial Finger of Doom at several characters. We’ll see how well I do this time.

The whole stream of consciousness doc has gone to Steve for review. There is a brainstorming session in our very near future.

# # #

Let’s see, what else?

Steve and I have been making an effort to bring more light into the house — this is in literal, rather than the metaphorical, sense. To that end, we have acquired an LED arc lamp to illuminate the living room. Steve has replaced his ancient (WWII vintage) desk lamp with a jazzy new LED lamp; I have a reading lamp in my upgraded reading corner, and we have placed a torche-thingy in the bedroom, which we’ve angle at the ceiling, and which illuminates the whole room.

What a difference a few lamps makes.

On that theme, my desk lamp (with full spectrum light tubes) blew out on Saturday. I’ve ordered in a replacement bulb, which will be here, it says here, on Friday. And not a moment too soon.

We still need to do something better about illuminating the bathroom and the kitchen. I’m thinking we should look into LED bulbs to replace the big globe- lights-onna-bar that were fashionable a while back, since we’re working with what we’ve got as much as possible. The kitchen. . .

The kitchen will require Creative Thinking.

# # #

So, it’s Wednesday, and I’m for the volunteer gig in a little while. While I’m gone, you can read the Spotlight interview from Locus, here (please note that this is a pdf file): lee-miller-locus-oct-2016

I hope everybody has a pleasant day.

In which busy writers are busy

Woke up early because the power went out (and came back on before the generator could engage). Guess everybody was running their A/C and fans against yesterday’s heat wave.

Steve made omelettes for breakfast, after which we moved on to working on the chapbook until it was time to head out to Children’s Book Cellar and our signing.

Driving in, we realized that the event could very easily go until 4:00 and we had neglected to eat lunch, which was — as nearly everything can be made to be — an excuse to stop at Dairy Queen on the way in to Waterville, in order to purchase milkshakes to sustain us in our Time of Fame.

This involved some unanticipated delay, since there appeared to be a hazing going on at the College Avenue Dairy Queen, which left one newbie on duty at a very busy counter, while four of his colleagues lounged in the back room.

Still, milkshakes were achieved, and we arrived Exactly on Time at Children’s Book Cellar, to find a Mighty Crowd awaiting us, including Carolyn Smith and her husband, from Stoneham, Massachusetts, and our own James Hetley, down from Bangor, as well as some local folk. We had a blast, and hoping our audience had the same. Thanks to everyone who came to see us, and for Ellen Richmond and the Children’s Book Cellar for hosting us!

After our event, we hit the grocery store, returned home, and got with the ebook one! more! time!

On that front, I am pleased to report that Sleeping with the Enemy is now “publishing” at Amazon, and BN. Expect to see the title on sale somewhere in the next 24 to 48 hours.

EDITED TO ADD: The book is on sale NOW at Amazon. Here’s your link.

Draft2Digital will be uploading the book to its vendors (Kobo, iBooks, Inktera, Scribd, 24Symbols, and Tolino) on its usual schedule. Remember! You will not be able to purchase this title through Smashwords.

Tomorrow, it’s back to the manuscript. Monday may possibly be an Ocean Day. We shall see.

In the meanwhile, it’s still hot, though not so much as yesterday. We hold out some hope of rain tomorrow, which will be, so they (They) say, cooler than today. Monday, however, we’re right back into the frying pan, and looking to stay there awhile.

As of this writing, there are 77 reader reviews of Alliance of Equals on Amazon! Go, you guys! Only 123 ’til we hit 200!

Speaking of Alliance — if you’ve read the book and want to talk about it, there is a spoiler thread here. Please do feel free to make use of it.

And now? I believe I see the cabana boy in the distance, bearing a bottle and a corkscrew.

Everybody stay happy.

Even more eye candy!

A couple days ago, we were pleased to show you David Mattingly’s painting that would become the cover for The Gathering Edge.

Today, we are pleased to share the comp cover, still smokin’ hot from the Baen Art Department.

Also! If viewing the art above has made you a little peckish, Cedar Sanderson has featured Daav yos’Phelium’s Extra Special Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in today’s Eat This While You Read That column. Here’s your link.

Also, also! Alliance of Equals has 40 reader reviews on Amazon! Only 160 to go! You guys are doing great.

And! (given “also” a rest, you see) Steve and I will be signing Alliance of Equals at Children’s Book Cellar, 52 Main Street, Waterville, Maine (our local indie bookstore) on Saturday, July 16 (that’s this Saturday!) at 2 p.m. If you’re in the area, come on by and say, “hi!”

The weatherbeans are calling for A Warm One, as Maine counts these things. I, of course, will be at the nice, air conditioned, hospital doing the volunteer gig. Steve and the cats will likely need to put the portable A/C unit in to play. Ah, summer. . .And, as Mainers say earnestly to each other, under just these sorts of conditions: “At least it ain’t snowin’.”

Hope you have a good day, wherever you are.

Soliciting statements of interest

An Alert Reader has noticed that February 2018 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Liaden Universe® in print. This is derived from the fact that Agent of Change was published as a paperback original by Del Rey, in February 1988.

Said Alert Reader has put out a call for celebratory Limited Edition Hardcovers in honor of this anniversary. Clearly, this is not something that we, the authors, can do. We can, however, take the idea to Madame the Publisher, if there seems to be sufficient interest.

This is where you come in.

If Limited Edition Liaden Universe® Hardcovers were published, would you purchase it/them?

I realize that price is very often an object for you, as it is for me, so if you have a price in mind, let me know that, too.

Thanks for your help.

. . .Sprite also thanks you for your help.